Subterraneous Secret II

August 18, 2020 Cindee Klement

Subterraneous Secret is part of my Endangered Knowledge work. For several years, I have been researching grass-fed food production, attending soil conferences, and visiting regenerative ranches. Research in these fields shows how to fight desertification and reverse climate change through regenerative agriculture practices. Interestingly, this natural history of living soil, how it evolved with roots, fungus, plants, food, and animals, carbon and their essential roles within microbial communities in human health, is not common knowledge.

Subterranean Secrets IIbronze — Subterranean Secrets II
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Recording natural history - ”Mute Testimony”

August 11, 2020 Cindee Klement

Recording natural history

Mute Testimony.3” X 6” X 4”bronzephot by Nash Baker — ***Mute Testimony***.
3” X 6” X 4”
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phot by Nash Baker

A fossil is our planet’s recorded history, the memoir of a life in a place, time, ecology, and evidence of global warming. It is Endangered Knowledge.

Many processes in art and the natural world lead to fossilization, including casting or mold making. I crafted a mold of a fossil that one of my children found at my son Griffin’s 8th birthday party in El Paso, Texas. It was a fossil hunting party at Cerro de Cristo Rey. (The intersection of two countries and three states, a special place.) A prehistoric relic, now a family treasure, I thought it would be meaningful to make a mold and cast it in bronze for each of my two children, a reminder of their childhood. A mold-of-a-mold a fossil-of-a-fossil. I found the redundancy poetic.

My son is now 31 years old. I have probably walked by the fossil once a day since Griffin was eight years old and did not think twice about it. Casting, it has forced me to think about the form and its value as an object of art. Evidence of aquatic life resurrected from the middle of the Chihuahuan desert— This poetic symbol of desertification will find meaningful ways to wander across disciplines into future environmental works.

Hearing, “this desert was once an ocean.” did not use to phase me. Thinking about the mineral remnant of a sea creature surfacing in one of the driest terrains in the US gives me pause; it makes me consider how we can live our urban lives and preserve natural systems.

I cast three additional fossils to share with others who are interested in natural history; two are finished in a natural patina and one in a contemporary finish — polished stainless steel.

Traces of ancient life tell story of early diversity in marine ecosystems

Stainless Steel finish changes everything 🤔 more to come

Endangered Knowledge: The Soul of Humus #15

August 2, 2020 Cindee Klement

Another day of building the bone structure of the face. The armature is more detailed than the sculpture will be. As I work I remind myself that the armature just needs to support the masses of dried mud and dried grass. It will not be visible under the herbaceous skin. I can’t seem to stop myself. I think it make me feel closer, more connect to the bison.

It also keeps me away from the news- COVID 19.

Today I worked on the lower part of it's cheekbones and then I added a rear jawbone.

Looking up the mouth and nose of head minus the lower jaw.

The right profile.

Endangered Knowledge: Soul of Humus #17

July 31, 2020 Cindee Klement

I started the lower jaw today. I spent the majority of the day researching the structure of the lower jaw and its movement as the bison chew.

**Here is a collection of my reference material.**

Bison grab a tuft of grass with their tongue, then they pinch it off by pressing it between their tongue and their front lower teeth. They do not have top front teeth. They then swallow it whole. That is the beginning of a 24-hour digestive process.

I love this image, I took it last January at Roam Ranch right before the roundup. I think this is the one they call Poppy. Poppy is very curious and friendly. She is checking me out as she catches rain drops on her tongue.

You can see the lower jaw through the upper jaw here. It is slightly off to the right of the bison. I want him chewing away and want to exaggerate the movement. I will probably bend it a little more askew this weekend.

Here the chewing lower jaw is more obvious.

Friday, I am committing to writing the Lawndale proposal- rewriting and rewriting and rewriting.

Endangered Knowledge: The Soul of Humus #14

July 21, 2020 Cindee Klement

I am getting close to finishing the head and upper jaw. The next step will be to create the lower jaw, then I will put the head aside and start building up the piece from the hooves.